Mechanism of the HeavensJ. Murray, 1831 - 621 pages |
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Page x
... direction has not been given to his centre of gravity , that he moves in space accompanied by all those bodies which compose the solar system , a circum- stance that would in no way interfere with their relative mo- tions ; for , in ...
... direction has not been given to his centre of gravity , that he moves in space accompanied by all those bodies which compose the solar system , a circum- stance that would in no way interfere with their relative mo- tions ; for , in ...
Page xi
... direction of a tan- gent to its orbit , arising from the primitive impulse given at the time when it was launched into space : should the force in the tangent cease , the planet would fall to the sun by its gra- vity ; were the sun not ...
... direction of a tan- gent to its orbit , arising from the primitive impulse given at the time when it was launched into space : should the force in the tangent cease , the planet would fall to the sun by its gra- vity ; were the sun not ...
Page xiii
... direction . The motions of both are extremely slow ; it requires more than 109770 years for the major axis of the earth's orbit to accomplish a sidereal revolu- tion , and 20935 years to complete its tropical motion . The major axis of ...
... direction . The motions of both are extremely slow ; it requires more than 109770 years for the major axis of the earth's orbit to accomplish a sidereal revolu- tion , and 20935 years to complete its tropical motion . The major axis of ...
Page xix
... direction of the rays that proceed from them . Were light propagated instantaneously , every object , whether at rest or in motion , would appear in the direction of these rays ; but as light takes some time to travel , when Jupiter is ...
... direction of the rays that proceed from them . Were light propagated instantaneously , every object , whether at rest or in motion , would appear in the direction of these rays ; but as light takes some time to travel , when Jupiter is ...
Page xxv
... direction of gravity , or of the plumb- line , and is the same which the sea would have if it were con- tinued all round the earth beneath the continents . Such is the figure that has been measured in the following manner : - A ...
... direction of gravity , or of the plumb- line , and is the same which the sea would have if it were con- tinued all round the earth beneath the continents . Such is the figure that has been measured in the following manner : - A ...
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Common terms and phrases
A₁ action angle ascending node attraction axes axis becomes c'mv centre of gravity centrifugal force co-ordinates coefficients comets computed conic sections consequently cosines curve density depending determined differential direction disturbing forces dR dR dt dt earth eccentricity ecliptic elements epoch equal equilibrium equinoxes fixed plane fluid functions give hence inclination indefinitely small integral Jupiter latitude mass mean anomaly mean distance mean longitude mean motion moon moon's move nearly observation omitted orbit of Jupiter oscillations parallax particle perigee perihelion perturbations planets preceding equation radius vector ratio regard retrograde motion rotation satellites Saturn secular inequalities secular variations sidereal sine spheroid square substituted surface system of bodies terrestrial theory tion true longitude Uranus velocity whence zero δα δε δυ
Popular passages
Page xv - That day, as other solemn days, they spent In song and dance about the sacred hill ; Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular Then most, when most irregular they seem ; And in their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted.
Page xviii - ... that the mean longitude of the first satellite, minus three times that of the second, plus twice that of the third, is always equal to two right angles.
Page vii - His works, but trace, with precision, the operation of His laws, use the globe he inhabits as a base wherewith to measure the magnitude and distance of the sun and planets, and make the diameter of the earth's orbit the first step of a scale by which he may ascend to the starry firmament. Such pursuits, while they ennoble the mind, at the same time inculcate humility, by showing that there is a barrier which no energy, mental or physical, can ever enable us to pass: that, however profoundly we may...
Page xlix - An account of experiments for determining the length of the pendulum vibrating seconds in the latitude of London.
Page xiv - But, in the midst of all these vicissitudes, the length of the major axes and the mean motions of the planets remain permanently independent of secular changes. They are so connected by Kepler's law, of the squares of the periodic times being proportional to the cubes of the mean distances of the planets from the sun, that one cannot vary without affecting the other.
Page lxix - If the attraction of the sun for the огпtre of the earth, and of the hemisphere diametrically opposite to him, were diminished by a difficulty in penetrating the interposed matter, the tides would be more obviously affected. Its attraction is the same also, whatever the substances of the celestial bodies may be; for if the action of...
Page vi - is to inspire the love of truth, of wisdom, of beauty — especially of goodness, the highest beauty — and of that supreme and eternal Mind, which contains all truth and wisdom, all beauty and goodness. By the love or delightful contemplation and pursuit of these transcendent aims, for their own sake only, the mind of man is raised from low and perishable objects, and prepared for those high destinies which are appointed for all those who are capable of them.
Page xii - ... depends upon the velocity with which they were first propelled in space. Had that velocity been such as to make the planets move in orbits of unstable equilibrium, their mutual attractions might have changed them into parabolas, or even hyperbolas, so that the earth and planets might, ages ago, have been sweeping far from our sun through the abyss of space.
Page lxiv - Jupiter ; it then gradually diminished in splendor, and having exhibited all the variety of tints that indicate the changes of combustion, vanished sixteen months after its discovery, without altering its position. It is impossible to imagine anything more tremendous than a conflagration that could be visible at such a distance.